10 comments:

Severely underrated! I watched it four times the week it debuted on DVD (with the various commentary tracks). I later picked it up used, and those stills are awakening my desire to see it again. One of Schrader's strongest overall, and it cemented my fondness for Greg Kinnear.

Thanks so much Aaron and I totally agree. The film has really haunted me and I find more and more to appreciate each time I watch it. I find Kinnear to be absolutely incredible in it...honestly it is one of my favorite performances of the decade. Defoe and Bello are excellent as well...thanks so much for the comments.

A wonderful choice! A group of us caught the British prem at the London Film Festival. We arrived at the cinema disappointed as we learned that Larry Clark's Ken Park (which was to be shown after Auto Focus)had been pulled. However, our mood improved after seeing Schrader's film which contains some great performances. I'd agree with Aaron that it's one of Schrader's best.

I don't think this film gets the recognition it deserves. I love it. I drove a couple of hours back when it came out to see it at a theater that showed indie type movies. It's a very powerful film full of strong performances.

I really like Schrader's stuff. I thought his last one, THE WALKER was very good, but I still my fave -- as far as directorial efforts go -- of his is LIGHT SLEEPER. Willem Dafoe was so good in that one.

I am the editor and co-creator of the quarterly print only publication Art Decades as well as the author of the upcoming From Emmanuelle to Chabrol: Sylvia Kristel in the Seventies. I'm also the creator of a number of film and music blogs including Moon in the Gutter, Fascination: The Jean Rollin Experience, The Sylvia Kristel Archives and Harry Moseby Confidential. I live in Colorado with my wife Kelley and our three dogs Maizie, Topper and Ziggy Pop.